Maple Grove Approves Popeyes Restaurant Despite Traffic Concerns
The Maple Grove City Council has approved a new Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen restaurant, but the approval came with concerns about traffic.
The Popeyes would be constructed in the Dunkirk Square shopping development south of 94th Avenue and east of Maple Grove Parkway. Located in the parking lot to the west of Becker Furniture World, the 2,500-square-foot restaurant would come with a dual drive-through capable of stacking 20 vehicles.
Council members who raised concerns wondered what the traffic impact would be on the area. A traffic study revealed “poor levels of service” at the intersection of 94th Avenue and Maple Grove Parkway, city documents showed.
“It really makes me nervous to put that many cars right there,” said Maple Grove City Council member Kristy Barnett, who voted against the project at the Oct. 2 meeting.
John Hagen, transportation operations engineer for the city, said that adding dual left turn lanes on the 94th Avenue approach to Maple Grove Parkway would serve as one remedy. Adjusting the stop light timing would also help improve traffic flow, he said. In addition, Hagan said the future Highway 610 extension would eventually help reduce traffic count to the general area.
Maple Grove City Council member Rachelle Johnson also brought up potential trash and maintenance concerns, noting issues at other Popeyes locations.
In the end, the city council approved the plan on a 4-1 vote with Barnett against.
